Taroko Gorge Day Tour from Taipei by Train

Meet Edison Tour’s representative in the early morning, and then take an express train bound for Hualien on your own. Don’t worry! Just sit back and enjoy this 3-hour journey.

Upon your arrival in Hualien, your tour guide will greet you at the train station. Your one-day tour to Taroko Gorge National Park will start from the Archway of Taroko Gorge. This remarkable arch not only serves as the gateway to Taroko Gorge but also stands as a profound symbol of the dedication of those who built the Central Cross-Island Highway. Take advantage of this moment to capture your joyful smile alongside this iconic landmark.

From the entry to Tianxiang, this 20km section of Central Cross-Island Highway winding through the steep marble cliffs and tunnels of the gorge will blow you away.

Your first stop is Shakadang Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in Taroko National Park, also known as “Mysterious Valley Trail”. 

The river gently flowing through the marble boulders as you meanders along the trail in parallel. The turquoise blue water of the river is crystal clear that you can see the riverbed from above. 

The next stop of your Taroko Gorge tour is Swallow Grotto Trail. The potholes on the cliff surface were created by the ground water and the rapid stream of the river. In the past, they were the natural nesting location of swallows, hence the name.

Walking through the tunnels, you will be amazed by the stunning views of the marble cliffs reaching up to the sky.  

Your lunch will be served in a restaurant in Taroko National Park.

After lunch, you will pass by Cimu Bridge. The name “Cimu” directly translates to “loving mother”, as a homage to a touching story of maternal love. At the eastern end of the bridge proudly stands the Cimu Pavilion, a structure commissioned by the late president Chiang Kai-shek in the memory of his own mother.

Originally constructed with white marble from the region, this red steel bridge, resembling a cable-stayed design, was known as the “Marble Bridge” before being swept away by a typhoon in 1990. On its eastern end, visitors can take in the scenic beauty of a riverbend where millions of years of powerful rapids have artistically shaped the riverbed.

Your tour continues with a visit to Tunnel of Nine Turns. Hold your breath, because this natural masterpiece will take your breath away!

Tunnel of Nine Turns is considered the most scenic section of Taroko Gorge, which reopened to public in 2019 after years of repair works. As you walk along the trail, you can see the meandering river running through the deep and spectacular canyon from above, and you can also have a closer look at the faults and folds of the sheer marble cliffs, as well as the vegetation on the walls.

After that, you will pass by Eternal Spring Shrine, a memorial shrine established in 1958, to commemorate the 225 personnel (military veterans) who died during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway.

From afar, you can see the waterfall cascading over the sheer cliff below the shrine, creating a picturesque view.

On the way back to the train station, your will visit a local marble factory, where you can get some handcrafts made of marble or souvenirs featuring the local characters, to enrich your travel collection.

Before you return to the train station for your train back to Taipei, you will visit the most romantic beach in Taiwan. Qixingtan Beach, a crescent-shaped beach covered with sprawling pebbles.

Here you can take a walk, chill yourself and enjoy the sea breeze along the beach, or challenge yourself to stack a stone tower with the pebbles.

Your 14-hour adventure ends with drop-off at Taipei Main Station.